Washing machine and drive therefor



March 11, 1952 E. W. cHAPlN WASHING MACHINE AND DRIVE THEREFOR 2 SHEETS-S Filed July 5, 1948 FEET l [Ml EN FUR W; EHKPIN g? ATTURNEY March 11, 1952 a w CHAPlN 2,588,963

WASHING MACHINE AND DRIVE THEREFOR Filed July 3, 1948 2 SHEETS-SFEET 2 /7 AQX'SE-E w av 74 SPIN //4=- v g wa 4L 0 i @x IN VFNTDE' E RYAN mi E HAPIN ATTUHNEY Patented Mar. 11, 1952 WASHING MACHINE AND DRIVE THEREFOR Bryan W. Chapin, Tully, N. Y., assignor to Easy Washing Machine Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application July 3, 1948, Serial No. 36,835

Claims.

This invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly to washing machines in which oscillatory agitating motion is employed, although the invention may be employed in other fields where a motion of a similar nature is desirable.

In an application Serial No. 793,159, filed Decexnber 22, 1947, there is disclosed a washing machine in which there is provided a resilient drive between the driving motor and the agitator or agitating basket; and provision is made therein for causing the motor to rotate a number of revolutions in one direction, reverse, and rotate in the other direction to provide the agitator oscillation. 4

The present invention constitutes an improvement over and variation of the invention disclosed in saidapplication, in that provision is made for facilitating the reversal of the motor. In the aforesaid application, the motor is caused to stall, and subsequently to be started by storage of and delivery of energy stored in a spring, the motor being of the induction type and readily stalled in this manner, while continuously energized.

The present invention provides an arrangement wherein the motor is de-energized prior to stalling, and re-energized as soon as rotation is effected: in the reverse direction. Through such an arrangement, heavy current peaks occurring when the motor is stalled, are eliminated.

An object of the present invention is to provide an oscillating drive of the type described, in which extreme peaks of current flow are eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an oscillating drive of the type described, in which, by the elimination of high peaks in the current flow, the degree of oscillation may be varied.

Still another object of the invention i to provide. an oscillating drive of the type described, in which the degree of oscillation may be readily varied, and in which the drive may be readily converted to continuous rotary motion.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an oscillatory drive for washing machine agitation, and in which the agitation power may be readily varied.

A-further object of the invention relates to the construction and arrangement of parts, whereby a rugged and economical drive of the type described results.

The above and other novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a vertical axis section of the invention showing its adaptation to a washing machine;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side detail partly in section, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l, and illustrating one of the controls;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1 Figure 4 is a broken transverse section taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure l, and illustrating an adjustment feature; and

Figure 6 is a circuit diagram for the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figure 1, there is shown a tub l0 mounted upon a base I2 of inverted shallow cup shape, the latter being provided with a bottom plate [4 and a plurality of supporting feet [6. The tub in is provided with a drain outlet 18 which may be provided with a hose the free end of which may be elevated or lowered to retain wash water within or drain the tub, as is well understood in the art. The tub is provided with a suitable cover 20 which is removable for access thereto. The bottom 22 of the tub and the top 24 of the base [2 are provided with aligned central apertures in which there is positioned a bearing support member 26, the same being provided with a shoulder 28 bearing against the top 24. The member 26 projects through said apertures and is provided with a nut 30 to clamp the tub bottom 22 to the top 24 of the base, suitable washers being pro vided to establish a leak-tight seal for the tub. Projecting upward into the tub is a tubular member 32 rigidly secured in the support member 26, the tubular member 32 extending preferably beyond the height of the rim of the tub ill.

The support member 26 may be integrally formed with an end plate 34 of a motor 36. The field 35of the motor is clamped between the top end plate 34 and a bottom plate 38 by a plurality of clamp screws 40. The clamp screws also secure the motor frame formed by the plates 34 and 38 to brackets 42 fastened to the skirt 44 of the base l2.

' Within the field 35 is a'rotor 46 mounted upon a sleeve 48, the lower end of which engages a thrust bearing 50 bearing against the frame memher 38. The rotor 46 is clamped upon the sleeve 48 between a shoulder 52 and nut 54. Extending through the sleeve 48 is a shaft 56 projecting below the thrust bearing 58 and extending upwardly beyond the end of the fixed tubular member 32. The upper end of the shaft 56 may be squared as at 58 and have securely fastened thereto a wash receiving basket 68 having an integral central upstanding sleeve 62 with an end flange 64 received by the squared end 58. A cap 66 threaded in the end of the shaft 56 is adapted to secure the basket 68 upon the shaft 56. It-will be seen that the basket 60 is provided with one or more Y agitating vanes 68, and a pluralityofperf orations 10, so that the basket may function for both washing when given an oscillatory washing mo-- tion, and extracting when continuously rotated at suitable extraction speeds.

The sleeve 48 extends upwardly in the tubular member 32 a substantial distance and is provided with a roller bearing" acting to center the sleeve 48 upon the shaft 56; Abutting the end of the sleeve 48 isa second sleeve 14 extending upwardly along the shaft 56, the same being securely fastened and keyed thereto. as at 18 adjacent the upper-Lend of the sleeve. The sleeves 48 and 14 have reduced external diameter portions .18 and 88.

throughout a substantial portion of their. length toprovide an annular cavity 82,. in which there is.

enlargedportion 92 of the lower end of the sleeve 48,.a'nd the sleeve 48 is journaled in the support member 26upon a roller bearing 84.

The lower end of the shaft 56 extendingbeyond the frame. member 38 forms a journal 96 upon which is rotatably mounted a commutator plate 98. Thecommutator plate is supported upon a hub memberhaving dog clutch teeth. I02 in itsunder face. The plate98 is restrained from rota-.

tion by a pancake type of spiral spring I84 having apluralityof turns, the outer of which is. an-. chored as at. I06 to the motor framev member,- 38. The inner end of the springisanchored to a 'circular plate I88 having a circular beveled edge I I8 suitably. clamped by wedge blocks. H2 fastened tov the commutator plate 98. The blocks .1 I2 are secured to the plate 98 by screws I I4, so. that the angular relation between the commutatorplate 98 and the spring anchor plate. I88 may be readily varied by loosening thev wedge blocks, after which the wedge blocks maybe securely clamped against the beveled edge I I8 to preserve .the adjustment.

. The shaft 56 may be supported uponan end thrustball 51 on the bottom plate I4,Ybu't the basket weight may-be jointly carried by the shaf and compression of the spring 84. n Y

. A lower extremity of the shaft 56 constains a feather key or spline II6 upon which is slidably mounted a collar H8 having one or more dog teeth I28 of the commutator platehub member previously described. .The collar II8is adaptedto be axially shifted to engage or disengage the dog teeth by actuation of a lever I22 fulcrumed as at I24 and extending through an L-shaped notch I26 in the skirt 44 of the casing I2, the lever being provided with a suitable knob I28 at its extremity. The L-shaped notch I26 provides formovement-of the lever :knob from an upper position with the dog clutch teeth disengaged toalower position where the clutch teeth become.

A brush holding bracket I42 extending transversely across and beneath the commutator plate 98, is rigidly mounted upon the skirt 44, and has afiixed at the inner end thereof a rectangular brush I44jsuitably secured to the bracket inan insulating sleeve I46. Slidably mounted upon the bracket I42 is a brush holder I48 mounting a brush I58 also suitablyinsulated as at I52. The brush holder I48 may be moved radially with respect to the commutator plate 98 by a bell crank: lever I54 fulcrumed as at I55 on a skirt carriedv bracket I56. One end of the bell crank lever'pro jects through a slot I58 and is provided with a handle I51. notches I68, I62 and I64 to provide three'positions in which the lever may be set manually: The other end of the bell crank is bifurcated at its end as at. I66 to engage anear I68 upon the" sliding brush holder' I48; I H

In Figure 6, there is diagrammatically shown: an electrical circuit for'operating-the apparatus;

as described. The motor shown comprises" the rotor 46 and a main field winding I18 asdn-a' common single phase induction motor. Suchia motor will rotate in either direction depending upon the direction inwhich the motor is started.- A capacitator starting winding, including the coil I12 and condenser I14 is provided so that under ordinary circumstances, the rotor 48 will: com-Q:

mence to turn in one direction. In circuit-with the motor, is an over-all control switch I16 and parallel circuits I18 and I88 selectableat will by operation of the switch I82. The parallel circuit I includes the brushes I44 and I50 bearing against. the commutator plate I32, and the cir:.=

cuit l181consists of a bypass around saidbrush'es; It will be seen that the circuit I18 would be equals;

ly effective if arranged merely as a shunt acrossthe brushes I58 and I44. The circuit 118' iseffective to cause the motor to commence rotation; in the capacitator starting. winding direction and to cause the motor to continue to rotate in that direction.

tionshown in. Figure 1. having a proper number of field poles, the basket 68 will be caused to spin at a predetermined speed satisfactory. for extraction of water from laundry contained therein. A suitable. speed for suchpurposes may be in the order of. 680 or 900: R. P. M., as may be found desirable.

It will be noted that the motor rotor drives the basket 68 through the spring 84,:-.th'e spring .al:-: lowing the-motor to. start easily and thereafter drag the basket 68 with it. During the a'ccelera-" tion period, the motor rotor may bev several revolutions ahead of the basket, but as speed is at-2 tained, this lead may decrease; The over-all between theeffect, however, is a direct drive motor and the basket.

If the circuit is iestablishedzthrough thebrushe's I44 and-I58, and the circuit I18 opened, and the.

clutch teeth I-28'and *lflzrengaged,thermotor I46 The slot I58 is provided with. three Under such circumstances, the dog: teeth I28 and I82 are disengaged as in the posi'-- By providing a motor will commence to rotate as previously described. As will be apparent, the spring 04 will again be torsionally stressed and cause the basket 60 to commence to rotate in the same direction. However, the basket is keyed to the shaft 56 and rotation of the shaft 56 is now restrained by the pancake spring I04. Thus, after the basket has rotated through an angle of possibly 90, the spring 104 will have a restraining force sufiicient to stall the basket and react through the spring 84 and stall the motor armature. The energy stored in the spring system will immediately upon stalling the motor armature tend. to initiate rotation of the motor armature in the opposite direction, thus starting the motor and causing the same to gain speed in the opposite direction. The cycle thus described repeats itself, the motor carrying the basket in the opposite direction through the resilient coupling effect of the spring 84 until such basket has rotated at sufiicient distance to torsionally stress the spring I04 in the opposite direction, whereupon the stalling sequence again takes eifect.

The operation thus described is similar to that disclosed in the aforesaid application, and it will be apparent that as a torque is applied sufficient to stall the motor, the current consumption will increase, resulting in current peaks of low power factor which, while not creating any serious loss of energy, nevertheless may under certain circumstances be undesirable and cause heating. The commutator and brushes are adapted to eliminate the current peaks, since it will appear that as the pancake spring I04 becomes subjected to high torsional stress as the commutator and shaft 56 rotate, the commutator acts to break the circuit by rotating in one direction or the other. The plate I32 rotates out of range of the brush I50 and breaks the circuit to the motor prior to the actual stall thereof. At the same time, the motor is started as before in the reverse direction mechanically by the spring energy stored; and after it has been so started, the contact plate I32 again contacts the brush I50, thereafter energizing the motor and causing the motor to accelerate independently of the energy stored in the spring. Immediately thereafter, the springs pass through the neutral stress zone and the motor again commences to torsionally drive the basket 50 through the spring 84, storing energy in the spring at the same time. As previously described, as soon as the basket commences to rotate, the pancake spring thereafter passes through its neutral stress position, and thence becomes stressed resulting in the storage of energy. After the same is stressed to a high degree and the commutator rotated sufliciently, the circuit through the brush I50 and the conductor plate I32 is again broken. The stored energy is then effective to start the motor in the reverse direction.

It will be seen that by moving the brush I50 radially inward. or outward from the position shown in Figure 4, the angle during which the circuit will be maintained will be enlarged or decreased. Thus, the angle through which the basket is oscillated may be readily varied and the severity of agitation changed to suit conditions. For example, for the washing of light fragile fabrics, rotation through a smaller angle may be desirable, whereas for fabrics subjected to great soil more violent agitation may be desired. Also, where a heavier load of laundry is being washed, greater agitation and energy may be required, which may be quickly supplied by movingthe brush I50 inwardly for a greater angle of contact.

While the capacitator starting circuit tends to start the motor in one direction, it will be readily understood that such circuit does not prevent the motor from being mechanically started inthe reverse direction, and once so started, the motor will run in such reverse direction although the torque in such reverse direction will necessarily lie slightly less than in the normal direction. Provision may be made to disconnect the starting circuit capacitator after initial starting has been completed, but in practice the operation is little affected by leaving the starting winding connected. In practice, the switch I82 may be directly activated by the lever I22; that is, the circuit I closed when the lever I22 is down and the circuit I18 closed when the lever is up. I

With the capacitator starting circuit, the rotor of the motor which has considerable inertia initially oscillates through increasing angularity, until the commutator becomes effective to periodically break the circuit, and facilitate as well as regulate the oscillations and the angle of oscillation. The capacitator starting circuit lightly biases the motor at all times during its operation, and this bias ha been found desirable if arranged to act in the direction such as to tend to wind the spring 84 rather than to unwind it. If desired, a high current capacitator starting winding may be used momentarily to start the motor in one direction, in which case, the initial starting torque is much greater, and full oscillations commence practically immediately, with the commutator effectively breaking the circuit and centrally the oscillation angle at the outset.

Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. As various changes .in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an oscillatory drive, in combination, an induction motor having a rotor, an energizing circuit for the motor, an anchor, resilient means connecting said rotor with said anchor, and means for opening the circuit to said motor upon the storage of a predetermined amount of energy in said resilient means.

2. In an oscillatory drive, in combination, an induction motor having a rotor, an energizing circuit for the motor, an anchor, resilient means connecting said rotor with said anchor, means for opening the circuit to said motor upon the storage of a predetermined amount of energy in said resilient means, and means for initially starting said motor in one direction.

3. In an oscillatory drive,in combination, an induction motor having a rotor, an energizing circuit for the motor, an anchor, resilient means connecting said rotor with said anchor, means for opening the circuit to said motor upon the storage of a predetermined amount of energy in said resilient means, and oscillatable driven means drivably connected to said resilient means at a point intermediate the connections of said resilient means with said rotor and anchor.'.

4. In an oscillatory drive, in combination, an induction motor having a rotor, an energizing circuit for the motor, an anchor, resilient means connecting said rotor with said anchor, means for opening the circuit to said motor upon the storage of a predetermined amount of energy'in saidresilient means, means for initially starting said motor in one direction, and oscillatable driven means drivably connected to said resilient means at a point intermediate the connections of said resilient means with said rotor and anchor.

5. In an oscillatory drive, in combination, an induction motor having a rotor, an energizing circuit for the motor, an anchor, torsional means connecting said rotor with said anchor adapted 'to resist rotation of said rotor in either direction, means responsive to a predetermined torsion in either direction in said torsional means for opening' the circuit to said motor.

6. an oscillatory drive, in combination, an induction motor having a rotor, an energizing circuit for the motor, an anchor, torsional means connecting said rotor with said anchor adapted to resist rotation of said rotor in either direction, means responsive to the degree of torsion in said torsional means for openingthe circuit to said motor, and means for initially starting said motor in one direction.

'7. In "an oscillatory drive, in combination, an

induction motor having a rotor, an energizing circuit for the motor, an anchor, torsional means connecting said rotor with said anchor adapted to resist rotation of said rotor in either direction, means responsive to the degree of torsion in said torsional 'means for opening the circuit to said ,means for initially starting said motor in one rection, and driven means connected to said torsional means at a point intermediate the conmotions of said torsional means with the rotor and anchor.

B. In an oscillatory and rotary drive, in com bination, an induction motor having a rotor, an energizing circuit for the motor, an anchor, torsional means connecting said rotor with said anchor adapted to resist rotation of said rotor in either direction, means responsive to the degree of torsion in said torsional means for opening the circuit to said motor, means for initially starting said motor in one direction, driven means connected to said torsional means at a point intermediate the connections of said torsional means withjlthe rotor and anchor, means .for disconnecting from the anchor the portion of said torsional meat is between said driven means and rotor and means for shunting said circuit opening means.

9. "In an oscillatory drive, in combination, an induction motor having a rotor, an energizing circuit for the motor, an anchor, torsional means connecting said rotor with said anchor, and means responsive to a predetermined angular movement of said torsional means for opening the circuit to said motor.

, .10. In an oscillatory drive, in combination, an induction motor having a rotor, an energizing circuit for the motor, an anchor, torsional means connecting said rotor with said anchor, means responsive to a predetermined angular movement of said torsional means for opening the circuit to said motor, and means for at will varying the amount of said predetermined angular movement.

11. In an oscillatory drive, in combination, an induction motor havin a rotor, an energizing circuit for the motor, an anchor, torsional means connecting said rotor with said anchor, means responsive to the angular movement of said torsional means for opening the circuit to said motor, means for initially starting said motor in one direction, and driven means connected to said torsiona means at a point intermediate the iii 8 connections of said torsional means with said anchor and rotor.

12. In an oscillatory and rotary drive, in combination, an induction motor having a rotor, an energizing circuit for the motor, an anchor, ton sional means connecting said rotor with Said anchor, means responsive to the angular movement of said torsional means for opening the circuit to said motor, means for initially vsta-rtiz'ig said motor in one direction, and driven means connected to said torsional means at a point intermediate the connections of said torsional means with said anchor and rotor, means for disconnecting :from said anchor the portion of said torsional means between said driven means and rotor and means for shunting said circuit opening means.

13. In an oscillatory and rotary drive, in combination, an induction motor having a rotor, an energizing circuit for the motor, an anchor, torsional means connecting said rotor with said anchor, means responsive to the angular movement of said torsional means for opening the circuit to said motor, means for initially starting said motor in one direction, driven means con nected to said torsional means at a point inten mediate the connections of said torsional means with said anchor and rotor, means tor-disconnecting from said anchor the portion of said torsional means between said driven means and rotor, means .for shunting said circuit opening means, and means for at will varying the amount of said predetermined angular movement.

14. In an oscillatory and rotary washing machine drive, in combination, a tub, an induction motor having a rotor disposed beneath said tub and secured thereto, an energizing circuit for the motor, an anchor fixed with respect to said motor and tub, torsional means connecting said rotor with said anchor, means responsive to the angular movement of said torsional means for opening the circuit to said motor, means for initially starting said motor in one direction, a laundry containing basket within said tub con nected to said torsional means at a point intermediate the connections or said'torsional means with said anchor and rotor, means for disconnesting from said anchor the portion of said torsional means between said basket and said rotor, means for shuntin said circuit; opening means, and means for at will varying the amount of said predetermined angular movement.

15. In an oscillatory and rotary washing ma chine drive, in combination, a tub, an induction motor having a rotor disposed beneath said tub and secured thereto, an ener izing cirouit'ior the motor, an anchor fixed with respectitc said motor and tub, torsional means connecting said rotor with said anchor, means responsivef'to the angular movement of said torsional means for opening the circuit to said motor, means for initially starting said motor in one direction, a laundry containing basket within said tub con nected to said torsional means at a point inter mediate the connections of said torsional means with said anchor and rotor, means for disconnecting from said anchor the portions of said tor sional means between said basket and said rotor and means for shunting said circuit opening means.

16. In a washi'ng machine, a base, an up standing tubular column, a tub mounted around said column, agitating means journaled around said column, drive means extending'through the column and connected to said agitating means for rotation therewith, an induction motor in the base, a resilient connection from the motor to said agitating means, a commutator switch drivably connected to said drive means, and in circuit with said motor, an anchor, and torsional means connecting said drive means with said anchor.

17. In a washing machine, a base, an upstanding tubular column, a tub mounted around said column, a wash containing basket journaled around said column, drive means extending through the column and connected to said basket for rotation therewith, an induction motor in the base, a resilient connection from the motor to said basket positioned within said column, a commutator switch drivably connected to said drive means, and in circuit with said motor, an anchor, and torsional means connecting said drive means with said anchor, said commutator switch being adapted to open the circuit to said motor upon a predetermined angular movement of said drive means in either direction. I

18. In a washing machine, a base, an upstanding tubular column, a tub mounted around said column, a wash containing basket journaled around said column, drive means extending through the column and connected to said basket for rotation therewith, an induction motor in the base including means for initially starting said motor in one direction, a resilient connection from the motor to said basket positioned within said column, a commutator switch drivably connected to said drive means, and in circuit with said motor, an anchor, a torsional means connecting said drive means with said anchor, clutch means for rendering said torsional anchor ineffective, and means for shunting said commutator switch, whereby said basket may at will be caused to oscillate or rotate continuously in one direction.

19. In a washing machine, a base, an upstanding tubular column, a tub mounted around said column, a wash containing basket journaled around said column, drive means extending through the column and connected to said basket for rotation therewith, an induction motor in the base including means for initially starting said motor in one direction, a resilient connection from the motor to said basket positioned within said column, a commutator switch drivably connected to said drive means, and in circuit with said motor, said commutator switch being constructed and arranged to open the motor circuit upon preselected angular movement of said drive means in either direction, an anchor, torsional means connecting said drive means with said anchor, clutch means for rendering said torsional anchor inefiective, and means for shunting said commutator switch, whereby said basket may at will be caused to oscillate or rotate continuously in one direction.

20. In a washing machine, a base, an upstanding tubular column, a tub mounted around said column, a wash containing basket journaled around said column, drive means extending through the column and connected to said basket for rotation therewith and supporting thereof, an induction motor in the base having starting means, a resilient connection from the motor to said basket, an anchor, a torsional means conmeeting said drive means with said anchor, a commutator drivably connected to said drive means having an arcuate contact segment, a stationary brush and circuit means for said motor including said brush and segment, and means for rendering said torsional anchor inefiecgiive and for shunting said brush and segmen BRYAN W. CHAPIN.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Haydon Aug. 21, 1931 Number 

